McConnell says the federal government can't do much about school shootings

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday said he's sorry, but Congress can't do much to stop school shootings. (Lexington Herald Leader)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that there isn’t much the federal government can do about school shootings, and the solution to preventing future tragedies lies in school security.

“I don’t think at the federal level there’s much we can do other than appropriate funds,” he said, speaking with community leaders in Danville, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.

Advertisement

He insisted that school safety reform, not gun control legislation, is the most effective way to prevent future attacks, and that such decisions are made on a local level.

"You would think, given how much it takes to get on an American plane, or given how much it takes to get into courthouses, that this might be something that we could achieve, but I don’t think we could do that in Washington, I think it’s basically a local decision,” McConnell said.

“It’s a darn shame that’s where we are, but this epidemic is something that’s got all of our attention,” he added. “And I know it’s got the attention of every school superintendent in the country.”

The outspoken activist insisted there’s plenty the federal government could do to combat violence in American schools.

“They could allow the CDC to study gun violence. They could strengthen background checks, ban high capacity magazines,” he said. “There’s a lot they can do, but they can’t do anything if they’re not allowed. Mitch McConnell is nothing more than a roadblock.”

The Kentucky Republican, who has a 93% rating from the NRA, has repeatedly blocked gun-control proposals.